The Cooldown: Week 19
With the first half of district play wrapped up, we’re starting to get an idea of who are contenders for district and state titles and which teams might be looking ahead to next season… or are we? At least one team from 17-6A is challenging that notion.
Check out The Cooldown for recaps of last weeks’ best games, players-of-the-week, state rankings and more.
Cy-Fair shocks Cy Creek
Cy Creek held a top 10 statewide ranking and an unblemished district record through the first half of district play… until rival Cy-Fair (11-14) knocked them off.
That might not change the district or statewide outlook, but it is noticeable. Since that Tuesday night win, Cy-Fair has tallied two more district wins to improve to 13-14 (7-3 in 17-6A) and next faces a Cy Ridge team it beat by 20 the first time around.
Cy-Fair has some serious momentum after a rough non-district slate. The Bobcats are in a fight with Stratford and Cy Creek at the top of the district standings, though a loss to Jersey Village didn’t help their cause.
Arlind Konjuhi and Marlin Meggs led the way with 23 points apiece while Jermiah Devenport chipped in 11 points. The 67-65 upset of Cy Creek puts the Bobcats back in the thick of the district race, and games against Stratford and Jersey Village to close the season will likely decide playoff seeding from 2-5 in the district.
College Park tops The Woodlands
If you thought three players in double figures was cool, how about four!
Zane Cooper (16), Aiden Buckmon (12), Martez James (12) and Xander Singh (10) led the way for College Park as the Cavs took down rival The Woodlands 64-49 in a huge district gaame. College Park is tied atop the 13-6A standings with Grand Oaks, though the Grizzlies beat College Park twice.
The Woodlands and Conroe are lurking in the background, each with three district losses. Those four have all but clinched a playoff spot, with a big drop off to fifth place. But with four teams all within a game of each other, anything can happen in the final weeks of the regular season!
College Park ends the season with New Caney, Conroe and Oak Ridge. The Woodlands still has to face Willis, Conroe and Caney Creek. Conroe will have major opportunities to make a district title push, while College Park and The Woodlands look to hold serve in the middle of 13-6A.
Manvel gets by Texas City
Manvel kept its district title hopes alive last week by beating Texas City, 45-41. The Mavs previously lost to the Stingarees 51-50.
Jamari McDowell and R.J. Hurd led the charge for the Mavs once again. McDowell finished with 14 points while Hurd has 13. Texas City got 18 points from star senior Clovis McCain, but struggled to get much production otherwise: McCain was the only Stingaree in double figures in this low-scoring affair.
As of today, Manvel leads the district with a 6-2 record. One of those losses was the one-point loss to Texas City, the other was a blowout loss against Ball. The Mavs take on Ball this Friday night in a game with huge implications: Ball and Texas City each have three district losses while Manvel has two. Any of them could claim the district title.
Players of the Week
In what was absolutely the most electric atmosphere of the week, Seven Lakes took down Jordan, who’s fans traveled well, in an 82-72 thriller.
My boys player-of-the-week, Anthony Bates, racked up 20 points and six boards in the win! Honorable mention goes to Bates’ teammate, Nasir Price, who also finished with 20 and six, to go with six assists as well.
My girls player-of-the-week is Cy-Fair’s Laney Lyle! To earn POTW honors, Lyle crossed the 1,000 career point threshold last week.
Statewide Rankings
Starting off with boys class 6A teams, Seven Lakes takes the top spot in the area ranked No. 5 in the state. The Spartans are followed by Hightower (10), Dawson (15), Cy Creek (17) and Cy Falls (23). Klein Collins fell out of the rankings and there are no new entries.
Class 5A is led by Fort Bend Marshall at No. 3, in the state, holding serve from last week. The Buffs are followed by Barbers Hill (19) and Goose Creek Memorial (21). Close neighbor Port Arthur Memorial is No. 17 in the rankings.
Class 4A features Furr at No. 4 and Washington at No. 5. Those two are followed by Stafford (8) and Iowa Colony (11). The lone school ranked in 3A is Hitchcock at No. 2.
In the girls rankings, Pearland remains the top team in Houston in the 6A rankings at No. 4 in the state. The Lady Oilers are followed by Katy (8), Fort Bend Hightower (10), Summer Creek (11), Fort Bend Austin (14), Westfield (16), Deer Park (18), Klein Collins (19), Cy Ranch (20) and Grand Oaks (23). Neighbor Beaumont West Brook is No. 17.
In 5A, Fulshear paces the girls state rankings for the Houston area at No. 10 in the state. The Lady Chargers are followed by Barbers Hill (13) and Manvel (16). In 4A, Navasota (18) and Bay City (23) are the only ranked teams from Houston. Class 3A is strong, featuring Columbus (10), Hitchcock (20) and Boling (21).